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Coble named assistant coach

From staff reports

AHSEBORO — Tony Coble, who helped lead Asheboro High School to a state baseball championship in 1986, went on to a Hall of Fame career at Wingate University and played professionally in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, will be part of the Asheboro Copperheads coaching staff this coming season.

Coble, who also recently joined the coaching staff at Wingate, spent almost 15 years in the U.S. Army, serving abroad in Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Kuwait. He graduated from the U.S Army Medical Corps School in 2001 and spent seven years as a surgical technician at Fort Bliss, Texas. He subsequently earned a Masters degree and in 2008 left the military as a First Lieutenant. He spent several more years in the medical field in the Washington, D.C., area before deciding to get back into baseball. Coble worked with the Washington Nationals’ Headfirst youth program, teaching baseball fundamentals and leadership skills, and last spring served on the coaching staff at Belmont Abbey College. He will work with outfielders and serve as the first base coach at Wingate this spring and will have similar duties with the Copperheads this summer.

After an outstanding prep career at AHS, Coble went on to Wingate and became one of that school’s all-time greats. He was an NAIA All-American as a senior in 1990, earning both South Atlantic Conference and District 26 Player of the Year honors. He hit .419 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs as a senior and finished his college career with 43 homers and 153 RBIs. Coble was drafted in the 28th round by the Brewers, but played just one season of pro ball before embarking on his military career.

In addition to being inducted into the Wingate University Hall of Fame, Coble is a member of the AHS Hall of Fame. Not only did he help the Blue Comets to a state title in 1986, but he was named the state 3-A player of the year. He was named Mr. Blue Comet as a senior and was an all-conference football player.

“We’re fortunate to be able to add someone with Tony’s credentials to our coaching staff,” said Copperheads General Manager David Camp. “Not only did he distinguish himself athletically at both the high school and college levels, but he has also served our country with honor and distinction. His personal and professional integrity and his outstanding leadership skills will definitely be an asset. We’re looking forward to having him with us.”

“It is both an honor and a privilege to come back to Asheboro as an assistant with the Copperheads,” said Coble. “I want to thank the Pugh family, coach (Donnie) Wilson and David Camp for allowing me this honor.”

Coble still has family in Asheboro and is looking forward to spending the summer months with them, along with reacquainting himself with many of his hometown friends and making a lot of new ones. “I look forward to meeting as many Copperhead fans as possible and I want to thank them in advance for their support,” he said. “I’m just very excited about coming back to Asheboro for the summer and being part of the Copperheads organization.”

Coble’s wife Sandy is a Major in the U.S. Army and works at the Pentagon.